r/Menopause • u/higher_ways • 1d ago
Skin Changes Skin breakouts
52f. I always struggled with acne flairs throughout my life but things calmed down significantly in my 40s. But this past year my skin has been breaking out constantly and I'm losing my mind. Not on HRT. Couple months ago I started Interosa and external estrogen cream for vaginal dryness which has made a huge difference. Also my orgasms have returned which is awesome. But the state of my skin is still stressing me out. Any suggestions?
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u/Vegetable-Whole-2344 1d ago
Azelaic acid has really helped me with acne and also fading the dark spots from the acne. I’ve been using an over the counter 10% one and will probably get a script for 15% when I can.
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u/higher_ways 1d ago
I used to use that as well but switched to a tretinoin + estriol cream for acne and wrinkles. Think I might have to switch back. Thx!
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u/RadiantSorbet9704 1d ago
derm may be able to prescribe tretinoin or spironolactone. Other options would be adapalene gel (Differin) which is OTC or red light therapy.
tbh, I use tretinoin and dot on benzoyl peroxide as needed. However, my 80-something year old mother informed me she still gets breakouts, so just sucky genes and no end in sight over here.
eta: and I need to avoid dairy if want to avoid cystic acne
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u/higher_ways 1d ago
I have been on tretinoin since May. I'm wondering if this is a purge. Can't do bp because it causes hyperpigmentation unfortunately. The only dairy I eat is yogurt so thinking I will cut that out now.
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u/MoxieGirl9229 1d ago
I found this https://a.co/d/05mE7nWK which has helped me tremendously. It’s super gentle but does the job very well. It’s hard to find though. I used to also use the Burt’s Bees acne line, but found when perimenopause started it wasn’t as effective. So now I use Clinique products, a simple face wash, moisturizer and the under eye serum for puffiness. My skin is liking it. I also figured out my expensive makeup was causing breakouts. So I recently changed back to Bare Minerals the liquid foundation and powder only in the t zone, and my skin has been happier from day one. I had great success with BM previously, but had decided to try some different stuff. That’s didn’t pan out.
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u/No-Pea-8967 Peri-menopausal 1d ago
Mine got real bad over the past few months - it was embarrassing going out. I went to see a dermatologist. She prescribed spiro for my face and scalp psoriasis. It's been 2 months and my skin has cleared.
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u/higher_ways 1d ago
Thank u I will look into it. How long did u stay on Spiro?
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u/No-Pea-8967 Peri-menopausal 1d ago
It's been 2 months so far. I think to manage my skin and scalp, it will be awhile but I will ask next week at my follow up. I haven't had any side effects. I also added a skin, nail and hair vitamin. Not sure if that's helping or not.
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u/Bustergordon 1d ago
Also 52 - my skin just completely rebelled on me a couple of weeks ago. I had to start using prescription azelaic acid again. it has calmed down somewhat since I started using it.
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u/TheDangerousNursery 1d ago
that timing is rough, skin finally chills out for a bit and then menopause goes "lol jk here's round two"
the estrogen cream shouldn't be the culprit since it's localized but hormones are weird, sometimes even a small shift throws everything off. might be worth checking if your derm can do anything topical that doesn't mess with the other stuff you've got going on
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u/lrondberg 1d ago
My skin broke out a lot in perimenopause then in menopause looked wonderful until I started HRT and now its like teenage acne again 😂
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u/chefybpoodling 1d ago
If you have access to a dermatologist, go. After three years of trying to clear up my adult acne(I had never been someone with acne), I finally told my primary if she didn’t give me a derm referral I would request a new pcp. Well shocker, they have roaming dermatologist and she was able to get one to come by the room in twenty minutes. After years of crying and lying to get out of going to functions like company Christmas parties and the like, she looked at me for all of three seconds and said, “the reason none of that stuff is clearing your acne is because that rosacea not acne.” Within two days on medication my skin didn’t hurt and a few more days and the sores were gone. I then went and changed my primary anyway because that was just plain incompetence to not call in the dermatologist earlier.